2026 NHL Draft Results

Round 1 Picks 17-32

Windsor Spitfires left winger Ethan Belchetz was my eleventh best player. Find out who got him here.

Chris Ransom follow @DraftUtopia Last Updated: June 26, 2026.

17. Utah Mammoth: Ethan Belchetz, LW, Windsor Spitfires (OHL) A+ Grade
    
    
    Utah could have Clayton Keller, their 2016 first round pick, as their first line left winger, Logan Cooley, their 2022 first round pick, as their first line center, and Dylan Guenther, their 2021 first round pick,, as their first line right winger next season. Utah could have Tij Iginla their 2024 first round pick as their second line left winger, Caleb Desnoyers, their 2025 first round pick, as their second line center, and Daniil But a second 2023 first round pick drafted twelfth overall, as their second line right winger. Utah could have Jack McBain as their third line left winger, Barrett Hayton, their 2018 first round pick drafted fifth overall, as their third line center, and Michael Carcone as thier third line right winger. Utah could have Brandon Tanev as their fourth line left winger, Nick Schmaltz as their fourth line center, and Liam O'Brien as their fourth line right winger.
    
    
    
    Mackenzie Weegar and Mikhail Sergachev the two first line defensemen on the Utah Mammoth are both back with both defensemen under contract through 2030-2031. John Marino and Nate Schmidt, the two second line defensemen on the Utah Mammoth are both back next season. Sean Durzi will be back as the number five defenseman. Dmitri Simashev could take over for Ian Cole as the number six defenseman on this third line next season after being a 2023 first round pick that was drafted sixth overall by the Arizona Coyotes in 2023 one year before the franchise moved to Utah.
    
    
    
    Karel Vejmelka will be back as the starting goalie for the Utah Mammoth. Vitek Vanecek is a UFA. Utah traded for Sebastian Cossa, the Detroit Red Wings second 2021 first round pick, so he might be the backup goalie to Karel Vejmelka with Vitek Vanecek being a UFA. Utah will develop Michael Hrabel the goalie that was ddrafted by Arizona in the second round of the 2023 NHL Draft in the AHL.
    
    
    
    Utah drafts a player to stash and develop and Utah needed a left winger. Ethan Belchetz was drafted first overall by the Windsor Spitfires in the 2024 OHL Draft. Ethan Belchetz was also someone that an OHL scout told me could be a top 5 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. Quite frankly he still could be if he dominates in his draft year, but he ended up falling to 17 in the 2026 NHL Draft.
    
    
    
    Ethan Belchetz has the speed, explosion, burst, agility, skating, foot speed, playmaking, passing, shooting, sniping, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, vision, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Ethan Belchetz is the eleventh player with experience on a first line.
    
    
    
    The 6-5 227 lb Ethan Belchetz had 17 goals, 21 assists, 38 points, 48 penalty minutes, and a -3 +/- ratio in 56 OHL games in 2024-2025. Ethan Belchetz was the Windsor Spitfires first line left winger in a majority of the games he played when he was healthy. The OHL regular season is 66 games, so Belchetz only missed 10 games with an injury which is why I would not put too much stock into his injury history. Ethan Belchetz had 34 goals, 25 assists, 59 points, a +19 +/- ratio, 10 power play goals, and 7 game-winning goals in 2025-2026.
    
    
    
    Ethan Belchetz is such a great fit here for Utah at 17. Ethan Belchetz broke his clavicle in March, but I don't see him falling in the draft unless his medicals are too servere to be overlooked. Some believe he has a red flag in lateral agility.
    
    
    
18. Washington Capitals: Oliver Suvanto, C, Tappara (SM Liiga) B Grade
    
    
    Washington got Anaheim's first round pick when they traded their most experienced defender John Carlsson away. Washington will have options at 18.
    
    
    
    The Washington Capitals have Aliaksei Protas, their 2019 third round pick taking over for Alexander Ovechkin as their first line left winger, Dylan Strome is their first line center, and Jordan Kyrou is their first line right winger. Washington has Alex Tuch as their second line left winger, Pierre-Luc Dubois as their second line center, and Tom Wilson, Washington's 2012 first round pick as their second line right winger. Washington has Anthony Beaulivier as their third line left winger, Ilya Protas their 2024 third round pick is now the third line center, and Ryan Leonard their 2023 first round pick drafted eighth overall is their third line right winger. Washington has Ethen Frank as their fourth line left winger, Justin Sourdif, a right winger as their fourth line center, and Ivan Miroshnicheko, their 2022 first round pick as their fourth line right winger.
    
    
    
    The Washington Capitals have Jakob Chychrun and Rasmus Sandin as their two first line defenseman with both of those defensemen showing they can be the number one defensemen. Washington has Matt Roy and Cole Hutson their 2024 second round pick as their two second line defenesmen. Washington has Timothy Liljegren and Martin Fehervary as their two third line defenseman.
    
    
    
    The Washington Capitals have Logan Thompson as their starting goalie. Washington has Charlie Lindgren as their backup goalie.
    
    
    
    Oliver Suvanto has the speed, explosion, burst, agility, skating, playmaking, passing, shooting, sniping, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, vision, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Oliver Suvanto played on all four lines. He was mainly a fourth line and third line center on Tappara, but he was team captain and the first line center for Finland at the Under 18 World Junior Championships. This makes Oliver Suvanto the twenty seventh different player with experience or potential to play on a top line in the 2026 NHL Draft, and I got one goalie in the top twenty two as I stated earlier.
    
    
    
    The 6-3 209 lb Oliver Suvanto had 2 goals, 9 assists, 11 points, and a +3 +/- ratio in 2025-2026. Oliver Suvanto models his game after Aleksander Barkov on the Florida Panthers, he got drafted by the Washington Capitals at 18. He will play on Tappara this year, the Hershey Bears in 2027, and probably joins the Washington Capitals in 2028.
    
    
    
    
    
19. Los Angeles Kings: Elton Hermansson, RW, Modo Hockey (Elitserien) A+ Grade
    
    
    The Los Angeles Kings will have Artemi Panerin as their first line left winger, Quinton Byfield their 2020 first round pick drafted second overall taking over as the first line center with Anze Kopitar retiring, and Adrian Kempe as their first line right winger. Los Angeles has Kevin Fiala as their second line left winger, Alex Laferriere will be their second line center, and Trevor Moore as their second line right winger. Los Angeles has Alex Turcotte their 2019 first round pick is their third line left winger, Samuel Helenius their 2021 second round pick is going to take over as their third line center, and Joel Arima is their third line right winger. Jared Wright their 2022 sixth round pick is their fourth line left winger and Taylor Ward is their fourth line right winger.
    
    
    
    The Los Angeles Kings have Drew Doughty their second overall pick in the 2008 NHL Draft in a contract year next season and their 2021 first round pick Brandt Clarke an RFA on their first line defense. Cody Ceci and Mikey Andersonare their two second line defensemen. Brian Dumoulin and Joel Edmundson are their two third line defenseman.
    
    
    
    The Los Angeles Kings have Darcy Kuemper as their starting goalie in a contract year next season. Anto Forsberg their backup goalie is in a contract year as well. The Kings also have some goalie prospects on the Ontario Reign in the AHL, and they could get called up next season especially Carter George the consensus top goalie drafted in the 2024 NHL Draft.
    
    
    
    Los Angeles gets a winger here. Elton Hermansson has the versatility to play both left winger and right winger, but mainly plays at right winger.
    
    
    
    Elton Hermansson is the son of Lennart Hermansson who had a 17 year career as a professional hockey player in Sweden. Elton Hermansson has the versatility to play both right winger and left winger even though right winger is his main position. New Jersey can draft Elton Hermansson to be a right winger of the future on either the first or second line.
    
    
    
    Elton Hermansson has the speed, explosion, burst, agility, versatility, skating, playmaking, passing, shooting, sniping, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, vision, offensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Elton Hermansson needs to improve his defensive awareness, but he is the twelfth with potential to play on first line in the 2026 NHL Draft as Elton Hermansson has the floor of a third line right winger and the ceiling of a first line right winger. That might slot him into a second line role at best on a team like the Los Angeles Kings.
    
    
    
    The 6-1 181 lb Elton Hermansson had 17 goals, 19 assists, and 36 points in 41 games with Orebro HK's Under 20 Team in 2024-2025. Elton Hermansson had 11 goals, 10 assists, 21 points, and a +9 +/- ratio in 38 games with Modo Hockey in 2025-2026. Elton Hermansson had 1 goal, 0 assists, and 1 point in 13 playoff games.
    
    
    
20. Buffalo Sabres: Ilia Morozov, C, Miami Ohio A Grade
    
    
    Buffalo needed a first line center for the future. They got their man in Ilia Morozov.
    
    
    
    Ilia Morozov has the speed, agility, skating, playmaking, passing, shooting, sniping, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, vision, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Ilia Morozov has the floor of a third line center and the ceiling of a first line center making him the seventeenth player with the experience and ceiling to play on a top line. With Byfield on the Kings, Morozov will probably be eased into a second line center role which might suit him better.
    
    
    
    The 6-3 205 lb Ilia Morozov had 11 goals, 11 assists, and 22 points as a first line center on the Tri-City Storm in the USHL 2024-2025 as a 16-year-old. Ilia Morozov had 8 goals, 12 assists, and 20 points on Miami Ohio as a freshman in 2025-2026 after beginning the season as the youngest player in Division 1 hockey.
    
    
    
    
    
21. San Jose Sharks: Ryan Lin, D, Vancouver Giants (WHL) A+ Grade
    
    
    Ryan Lin has the speed, explosion, burst, agility, skating, playmaking, passing, shooting, sniping, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, vision, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Ryan Lin has the traits you want from an NHL defenseman. He does not dominate all three zones like Keaton Verhoeff and is not as big as Verhoeff, but he is a number one defenseman on his teams first line.
    
    
    
    There were only three defenseman that generated 50 points at the age of 16 in the WHL. One of those defenseman was New Jersey Devils legend Scott Niedermeyer. The other two are Ryan Lin the second best defenseman in the 2026 NHL Draft and the other guy is Landon DuPont, the first pick in the 2024 WHL Draft who won the WHL Rookie Of The Year last season guiding the Everett Silvertips to the leagues best regular season record as DuPont is the favorite to go first overall in the 2027 NHL Draft. Ryan Lin was drafted sixth overall by the Vancouver Giants in the 2023 WHL Draft.
    
    
    
    The 5-11 172 lb Ryan Lin has gained 20 lbs of muscle since being drafted by the Vancouver Giants with the sixth pick in the 2023 WHL Draft. Ryan Lin has a long stride when skating on the ice. He also knows how to take risks and when to take risks with his timing for taking risks at a precise level. Ryan Lin had 5 goals, 48 assists, 53 points, 14 penalty minutes only taking 7 penalties all season, and a +11 +/- ratio in 2024-2025. Ryan Lin had 0 goals, 2 assists, and 2 points in the 2025 WHL Playoffs. Ryan Lin had 14 goals, 43 assists, 57 pints, and a -19 +/- ratio after getting promoted to alternate captain in 2025-2026.
    
    
    
    Ryan Lin is the fifteenth player with experience on a first line. Ryan Lin will probably go to the NCAA and develop on the Denver Pioneers next season and possibly the year after that.
    
    
    
    I had Keaton Verahoeff, Ivar Stenberg, and Ryan Lin all in my top four for my preseason NHL Mock Draft behind Gavin McKenna with Ryan Lin going fourth overall to San Jose in that mock back in August. San Jose somehow managed to secure all three of those guys. How many teams can say they got three of the preseason top four in one draft? San Jose now has five long-term defensemen with Sam Dickinson, Keaton Verhoeff, Ryan Lin, Simon Wang from the 2025 NHL Draft, and Luca Cagnoni their 2023 fifth round pick that played on a first line when he was drafted who actually made the San Jose Sharks NHL roster late in the season last year. You got those five young defensemen to build this team around long-term.
    
    
    
22. Pittsburgh Penguins: Liam Ruck, RW, Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL) A+ Grade
    
    
    The Pittsburgh Penguins have Rickard Rakell as their first line left winger under contract until 2028, Sidney Crosby their first overall pick in the 2005 NHL Draft as their first line center in a contract year next season, and Bryan Rust as their first line right winger under contract until 2028. Pittsburgh has Egor Chinakov as their second line left winger whose an RFA, Evgeni Malkin who was drafted second overall in the 2004 NHL Draft is their second line center in a contract year next season, and Tommy Novak as their second line right winger is also in a contract year next year. Pittsburgh has Elmer Soderblom as their third line left winger whose in a contract year before he becomes an RFA in 2027, Benjamin Kindel, Pittsburgh's eleventh overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft is their third line center, and Justin Brazeau will be Pittsburgh's third line right winger in a contract year next season. Pittsburgh ahs Connor Dewar as their fourth line left winger, Blake Lizotte as their fourth line center, and Rutger McGroady as their fourth line right winger.
    
    
    
    The Pittsbugh Penguins have Kris Letang, their 2005 third round pick as their number one defenseman under contract until 2028 with Erik Karlsson complimenting him on the first line, but both Letang and Karlsson can be number one defensemen on Pittsburgh as Erik Karlsson is also in a contract year. Samuel Girard enters a contract year as the number three defenseman on the Pittsburgh Penguins after spending most of his NHL career with the Colorado Avalanche and Ryan Graves compliments Samuel Girard as the number four defenseman on the second line. Pittsburgh has Kaedan Korczak who was a number four defenseman on Vegas as their number five defenseman. Ilya Solovyov compliments Korczak as the number six defenseman. Pittsburgh also has Caleb Jones and Jack St. Ivany for depth as a number seven and number eight defenseman with eight defensemen under contract next year.
    
    
    
    The Pittsburgh Penguins have Arturs Silovs as their starting goalie. Joel Blomqvist a 2020 second round pick is an RFA and will likely be the Pittsburgh Penguins backup goalie if they choose to move on from Stuart Skinner whose a UFA.
    
    
    
    Liam Ruck was drafted ninth overall by the Medicine Hat Tigers in the 2023 WHL Draft. Liam Ruck also has a twin brother named Markus Ruck that plays center.
    
    
    
    Liam Ruck has the speed, explosion, burst, versatility, agility, skating, foot speed, playmaking, passing, sniping, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, vision, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Liam Ruck is the twentieth player with experience on a first line or potential to play on the first line in the NHL.
    
    
    
    The 6-0 175 lb Liam Ruck had 25 goals, 16 assists, 41 points, and a +17 +/- ratio in 51 WHL games with the Medicine Hat Tigers in 2024-2025. Liam Ruck had 6 goals, 4 assists, and 10 points in 18 games helping the Medicine Hat Tigers win the WHL during the 2025 WHL Playoffs. Liam Ruck had 45 goals, 59 assists, 104 points, 16 power play goals, 3 short-handed goals, 223 shots on goal, and 10 game-winning goals in 2025-2026. Liam Ruck had 8 goals, 4 assists, and 12 points in 14 games during the 2026 WHL Playoffs.
    
    
    
    
    
23. Detroit Red Wings: JP Hurlbert, C, Kamloops Blazers (WHL) A Grade
    
    
    The Detroit Red Wings have Alex Debrincat as their first line left winger in a contract year, Dylan Larkin, their 2014 first round pick and team captain as their first line center, and Lucas Raymond their 2020 first round pick as their first line right winger. Emmitt Finne their 2023 seventh round pick is now expected to play on the top six next season after playing all 82 NHL games this past season, Andrew Copp is their second line enter, and J.T. Compher is their second line right winger. Detroit could have Carter Bear their 2025 first round pick as their third line left winger, Michael Rasmussen their 2017 first round pick as their third line center, and Mason Appleton as their third line right winger. Detroit could have Marco Kasper their 2022 first round pick as their fourth line center after being Detroit's second line center in 2024-2025, and Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, Detroit's 2024 first round pick is their fourth line right winger.
    
    
    
    The Detroit Red Wings have Moritz Seider their 2019 first round pick as their number one defenseman on their first line and Simon Edvinsson their 2021 first round pick complimenting him on the first line as an RFA this offseason. Both of those defensemen were drafted sixth overall in their respective draft years. Justin Faulk was a number one defenseman on the Carolina Hurricanes and St. Louis Blues, but now he is a number three defenseman anchoring the Red Wings second line with Axel Sandin-Pellikka the Red Wings second 2022 first round pick complimenting him. Detroit has Ben Chiarot and Jaob Beranrd-Docker complimenting him. Albert Johansson is a seventh sdefenseman for depth.
    
    
    
    Detroit Red Wings starting goalie John Gibson enters a contract year next season. The backup goalie Cam Talbot is a UFA this summer. Michal Postava an undrafted goalie that played for HC Kometa Brno in Extraliga in the Czech Republic dominated down the stretch for the Grand Rapids Griffins, so he will be the backup behind John Gibson. Detroit Red Wings 2023 second round pick Trey Augstine will be the starting goalie on the Grand Rapids Griffins next season.
    
    
    
    JP Hurlbert has the versatility to play all three forward roles at left winger, center, and right winger. That versatility is why JP Hurlbert comes off the board here. JP Hurlbert was drafted twentieth overall by the Kamloops Blazers in the 2023 WHL Draft.
    
    
    
    JP Hurlbert has the speed, explosion, burst, versatility, agility, skating, foot speed, playmaking, passing, shooting, sniping, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, vision, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. JP Hurlbert is the twenty first player with experience or potential to play on a first line in the NHL since he was a top line guy at the WHL.
    
    
    
    The 6-0 182 lb JP Hurlbert had 42 goals, 55 assists, 97 points, 9 power play goals, 4 game-winning goals, 249 shots on goal, 170 face off wins, and a +13 +/- ratio in 68 WHL games in 2025-2026. JP Hurlbert had 1 goal, 2 assists, and 3 points in 4 games in the 2026 WHL Playoffs.
    
    
    
24. Vancouver Canucks: Adam Novotny, LW, Peterborough Petes (OHL) A+ Grade
    
    
    Vancouver drafts a player to stash and develop since they needed a left winger for depth. Adam Novotny was drafted eighth overall in the 2024 CHL Import Draft. Adam Novotny has the versatility to play both left winger and right winger.
    
    
    
    Adam Novotny has the speed, explosion, burst, versatility, agility, skating, foot speed, playmaking, passing, sniping, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, vision, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Adam Novotny has the ceiling of a top 15 pick and the floor of a top 20 pick. Adam Novotny is the nineteenth player with experience as well as potenital to be a first line player in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft.
    
    
    
    The 6-1 204 lb Adam Novotny had 34 goals, 31 assists, 65 points, 8 power play goals, 8 game-winning goals, 1 short-handed goal and a 278 shots on goal in his rookie season with the Peterborough Petes in 2025-2026. Adam Novotny had 0 goals, 1 assist, and 1 point in 6 games during the 2026 OHL Playoffs.
    
    
    
    Adam Novotny would be a player that Vancouver develops long-term. Vancouver may have just found their future first line left winger to pair with their center tandem of Elias Petersson, Caleb Malhotra, Marco Rossi, and Braden Cootes.
    
    
    
    
    
25. Ottawa Senators: Jonas Lagerber Horn, RW, Leksands IF (Elitserien) D- Grade
    
    
    The Ottawa Senators have Warren Foegele as their first line left winger in a contract year, Tim Stutzle drafted third overall in the 2020 NHL Draft as their first line center, and Drake Batherson their 2017 fourth round pick as their first line right winger with Drake Batherson entering a contract year next season. Ottawa has Ridly Greig their third 2020 first round pick as well as their late first round pick from the 2020 NHL Draft as a third line left winger, Dylan Cozens is their second line center, and William Eklund as their second line right winger. Ottawa has Shane Pinto, their 2019 second round pick as their third line center, and Michael Amadio as their third line right winger. Lars Eller is the fourth line center and Fabian Zetterlund is the fourth line right winger.
    
    
    
    The Ottawa Senators have Jake Sanderson, their fifth overall pick in the 2020 NHL Draft as their number one defenseman and Thomas Chabot their 2015 first round pick as their number two defenseman complimenting Jake Sanderson on their first line with Chabot under contract until 2028 beore he becomes a UFA. Ottawa has Artem Zub also pronounced Artyom Zub as their number three defenseman anchoring the second line as Zub was an undrafted defenseman that has spent his NHL career with Ottawa despite going undrafted in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft with Tyler Kleven, Ottawa's 2020 second round pick and fourth pick in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft as the number four defenseman on Ottawa's second line. Carter Yakemchuk, Ottawa's 2024 first round pick finally saw significant minutes on the third line as the number five defensemen, but that may have been due to both Jake Sanderson and Artem Zub being injured before game 4 of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs where Carolina swept Ottawa.. Jordan Spence, who filled in for an injured Jake Sanderson is an RFA this summer and the number six defenseman on Ottawa. Nikolas Matinpalo gives you a number seven defenseman for depth too.
    
    
    
    The Ottawa Senators extended starting goalie Linus Ullmark. Leevi Merilainen, Ottawa's 2020 third round pick and the sixth player Ottawa drafted in the 2020 NHL Draft is now the fifth player from Ottawa's 2020 NHL Draft to crack the NHL as he beat out veteran James Reimer for the backup goalie job. This gives Ottawa the flexibility to let James Reimer walk for nothing.
    
    
    
    Jonas Lagerber Horn was the best player that didn't make my 7 round mock draft. It is a better selection than Adam Andersson, but its still a massive reach. Ottawa gets an F grade since they really needed multiple left wingers after trading Brady Tkachuk.
    
    
    
26. Montreal Canadiens: Gleb Pugachyov, RW, Torpedo Nizhny Novogorod (KHL) C+ Grade
    
    
    The Montreal Canadiens have Juraj Slafkovsky, their first overall pick from the 2022 NHL Draft as their first line left winger, Nick Suzuki as their first line center, and Cole Caufield, their 2019 first round pick as their first line right winger. Montreal's top line wingers Slafkovsky and Caufield have the versatility to play either winger role at left winger or right winger. Montreal has Alex Newhook as their second line left winger, Jake Evans as their second line center, and Ivan Demidov who was drafted fifth overall in the 2024 NHL Draft is their second line right winger. Montreal has Alexander Texier as their third line left winger, Phillip Danault as their third line center in a contract year next season, and Josh Anderson as their third line right winger whose also in a contract year next season. Montreal has Zack Bolduc their fourth line left winger as an RFA, Joseph Veleno their fourth line center is an RFA, but will be a UFA in 2027, and the same can be said with fourth line right winger Kirby Dach whose an RFA this summer before becoming a UFA in 2027.
    
    
    
    The Montreal Canadiens have Noah Dobson and Lane Huton their 2022 second round pick that won the Calder last year as their two first line defensemen. Montreal has Mike Matheson and Kaiden Guhle their 2020 first round pick as their two second line defensemen. Montreal has Jayden Struble and Alexandre Carrier as their two third line defensemen with Carrier in a contract year.
    
    
    
    Montreal has Jakub Dobes as their starting goalie and Jacob Fowler as their backup goalie with both rookie goalies on rookie contracts. I had Montral at 12 in my preseason NHL Mock because I felt like Samuel Montembault would be a disaster as Montreal's starting goalie. Dobes and Fowler my favorite goalie from the 2023 NHL Entry Draft both made the NHL this year and both had excellent rookie years which is why Montreal went from a fringe playoff team in 2024-2025 to a team that made the 2026 Eastern Conference Finals. With everyone back, Montreal is my early favorite to win the Eastern Conference in 2027, if Sergei Bobrovsky was a lock to return to Florida you could make an argument for the Florida Panthers as the favorite to win the Eastern Conference next season since Florida won back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2024 and 2025 before Aleksander Barkov tore his ACL.
    
    
    
    The Montreal Canadiens get another winger. Gleb Pugachyov is considered the top Russian winger in the 2026 NHL Draft since he has the versatility to play both left winger and right winger.
    
    
    
    Gleb Pugachyov has the versatility, skating, playmaking, passing, shooting, sniping, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, vision, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Gleb Pugachyov is the seventy fifth player with experience or potential to play on the first line in the 2026 NHL Draft.
    
    
    
    The 6-3 198 lb Gleb Pugachyov had 10 goals, 14 assists, and 24 points in the MHL in 33 games 2025-2026. Gleb Pugachyov had 1 goal, 4 assists, and 5 points in the VHL in 15 games in 2025-2026. Gleb Pugachyov had 2 goals, 1 assist, and 3 points in 13 games in the KHL in 2025-2026.
    
    
    
    
    
27. Philadelphia Flyers: Maksim Sokolovskii, D, London Knights (OHL) D Grade
    
    
    Philadelphia could have Tyson Foerster their 2020 first round pick as their first line left winger, Trevor Zegras as their first line center, and Porter Martone their 2025 first round pick as their first line right winger. Philadelphia could have Owen Tippett back at full health as their second line left winger, Christian Dvorak who got some reps at first line center in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs as their second line center, and Matvei Michkov their 2023 first round pick as their second line right winger. Denver Barkey, Philadelphia's 2023 third round pick could be their third line left winger, Jett Luchanko, Philadelphia's 2024 first round pick could be their third line center, and Travis Konecny, Philadelphia's 2015 first round pick will remain the third line right winger behind the Philadelphia Flyers young stars at right winger despite being an alternate captain. Philadelphia could have Noah Cates as their fourth line left winger, Sean Couturier, Philadelphia's 2011 first round pick as well as team captain as their fourth line center, and Garnet Hathaway as their fourth line right winger.
    
    
    
    Philadelphia has Jamie Drysdale and Travis Sanheim back as their two first line defenseman. Oliver Bonk, Philadelphia's second 2023 first round pick is the number three defenseman on the second line with Cam York their 2019 first round pick complimenting him as the number four defensemen on the second line. Philadelphia has Rasmus Ristolainen in a contract year next season anchoring the third line with Nick Seeler as their number six defenseman. Simon Benoit is the number seven defenseman. David Jiricek is the number eight defenseman, the Columbus Blue Jackets former sixth overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft.
    
    
    
    Philadelphia has Dan Vladar in a contract year at goalie next season, whose set to sign an extention. Joseph Woll is now the Flyers backup goalie. Both goalies showed they could be low-end starters and Carson Bjarnason, Philadelphia's 2023 second round pick is struggling on the Lehigh Valley Phantoms in the AHL. Philadelphia could draft and stash a goalie after the first two rounds of this draft, but I expect the Flyers to address the first round with a forward and take a defenseman in the second round.
    
    
    
    Philadelphia drafts a bottom pairing defenseman with massive size. Maksim Sokolovskii is a number six defenseman on a third line with exceptional penalty killing skills as he may have the ceiling to develop into a first line penalty killer. There's a reason why one of my friends wants the Dallas Stars to take him at 59. His penalty killing is the biggest reason why Maksim Sokolovskii could go as early as the second round, but man the Philadelphia Flyers reach for my top fifth round player in the first round.
    
    
    
    Maksim Sokolovskii has the skating, playmaking, passing, vision, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Maksim Sokolovskii did well during is rookie OHL Season despite seeing limited action. He projects as a bottom pairing defenseman on a third line in the NHL with the ability to be either a first or second line penalty killing defenseman too.
    
    
    
    The 6-8 235 lb Maksim Sokolovskii had 2 goals, 6 assists, 8 points, a +10 +/- ratio, and 23 shots on goal in limited action as a rookie in 44 OHL games in 2025-2026. Maksim Sokolovskii had 0 goals, 0 assists, and 0 points in the 2026 OHL Playoffs.
    
    
    
    Maksim Sokolovskii has one more OHL season next year. He's enrolling at Maine in 2027.
    
    
    
28. Anaheim Ducks: Marcus Nordmark, RW, Djurgardens IF (Elitserien) B Grade
    
    
    Marcus Nordmark has the speed, explosion, burst, agility, versatility, skating, playmaking, passing, shooting, sniping, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, vision, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Marcus Nordmark has the floor of a fourth line right winger and the ceiling of a second line right winger if you watch his tape on Djurgardens IF. He was a first line right winger on Sweden's teams at Sweden Under 20 Team at the World Junior Summer Showcase with Viggo Bjorck as his center as well as the World Junior Championship where he won a gold medal with Alexander Command as his first line center making him the thirty third skater with experience or potential on a first line in the 2026 NHL Draft.
    
    
    
    The 6-1 183 lb Marcus Nordmark had 9 goals, 9 assists, 18 points, 10 penalty minutes, and a +17 +/- ratio in 17 games with the Djurgradens IF Under 20 Team. Marcus Nordmark also had 3 goals, 1 assist, and 4 points in 5 playoff games. Marcus Nordmark had 0 goals, 1 assist, and 1 point in 17 SHL games with Djurgardens IF in 2025-2026.
    
    
    
    
    
29. Vegas Golden Knights: Juho Piiparinen, D, Tappara (SM Liiga) B Grade
    
    
    The Vegas Golden Knights have Mitch Marner as their first line left winger,, Jack Eichel as their first line center locked up until 2034 after signing an eight year extension earlier this Fall before this past NHL season, and team captain Mark Stone as their first line right winger in a contract year next season. Vegas has Ivan Barbashev as their second line left winger, Brett Howden as their second line center, and Tomas Hertl as their second line right winger. Vegas has Trevor Connolly their 2024 first round pick as their third line left winger, William Karlsson as their third line center, and Keegan Kolosar their fourth line right winger getting promoted to third line right winger in a contract year if Reilly Smith leaves. Vegas could have Trevor Connolly their 2024 first round pick as their fourth line left winger, Nic Dowd in a contract year, and Braden Bowman who played fourth line right winger after William Karlsson got injured in the 2026 Stanley Cup Finals as their fourth line right winger next season before he becomes an RFA.
    
    
    
    The Vegas Golden Knights have Shea Theodore and Brayden McNabb their two first line defenseman back as their two first line defenseman. Noah Hanifin and Parker Wotherspoonn are their two second line defensemen. Vegas does not have a third line defenseman under contract for next season and only have 4 million in cap space. My guess is if they cannot re-sign anyone they will either trade someone to create cap space, or they will promote Jeremy Davies whose making over $1 million in the AHL to be the number five defenseman anchoring the third line with Lukas Cormier their 2020 third round pick that I loved in the 2020 NHL Draft as their number six defenseman after giving the RFA a cheap one-way contract that would allow Cormier to make the jump to the NHL this season.
    
    
    
    The Vegas Golden Knights have Carter Hart as their starting goalie in a contract year. Adin Hill who led the Vegas Golden Knights to their only Stanley Cup in 2023 is now the backup goalie. Pavel Moysevich struggled in 18 KHL games after he got drafted by the Vegas Golden Knights in the third round of the 2024 NHL Draft and did not play in any KHL games this past season. Pavel Moysevich is joining the Henderson Silver Knights next season, but something tells me he will struggle there since he only did well in the MHL and VHL, but struggled in the KHL. This tells me he might be good enough to play in the AHL, but not good enough to play in the NHL.
    
    
    
    The Vegas Golden Knights need a first line defenseman in the worst way possible. I'm not sold on Theodore or McNabb as an All Star caliber despite the fact that both stepped up against Colorado in the 2026 Western Conference Finals.
    
    
    
    I got Vegas stacking up on defenders. Juho Piiparinen ends up on Carolina here.
    
    
    
    Juho Piiparinen was the top defenseman in Finland not named Albert Smits and a big part of the Tappara team that won the Liiga league. Oliver Suvanto and Juho Piiparinen were both part of the Tappara team that won Liiga in the league once known as SM Liiga, that I still refer to as SM Liiga in Finland in 2025-2026. Juho Piparinen was also the team captain for the Finland Under 18 Little Lions team.
    
    
    
    Juho Piiparinen has the skating, playmaking, passing, vision, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Juho Piiparinen was mainly a third line guy on Tappara, but he was the number one defenseman on the first line for Finland at this years Under 18 World Junior Championships acting as a quarterback on the power play and penalty killer with his center teammate Oliver Suvanto. This makes Juho Piiparinen the thirtieth skater in my top thirty one with experience or potential to play on a first line. Juho Piiparinen has the floor of a third line defenseman in the NHL and the ceiling of a first line defenseman. This means he will likely be a second line defenseman, but could be a third line guy if he only reaches his floor, or a first line guy if he reaches his potential.
    
    
    
    The 6-3 203 lb Juho Piiparinen had 0 goals, 3 assists, 3 points, and a +6 +/- ratio in 29 games with Tappara in 2025-2026. Juho Piiparinen needs to develop his shot by improving his wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, and slap shot accuracy. How much improvement he makes in his shot will determine if he's a bottom pairing defender on a third line, a middle pairing defender on a second line, or a top pairing defender on a first line.
    
    
    
    Here is a quote from Juho Piiparinen after being voted team captain of Finland. "I try to handle this task as well as possible. I aim to lead by my own actions. I'm not the loudest guy, but I try to set an example and show the way." With his size and this type of demeanor its hard to see this guy escaping the first round.
    
    
    
30. Calgary Flames: Jack Hextall, C, Youngstown Phantoms (USHL) B- Grade
    
    
    Calgary needed a number one center. They took a second line center here.
    
    
    
    Jack Hextall has the skating, foot speed, playmaking, passing, sniping, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, vision, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Jack Hextall may not be a first line center, but he has traits of a second round prospect. Some have mocked him near the end of the first round, but there are eighty eight skaters and eleven goalies I like more from an upside potential standpoint. Hextall is a top 100 player, but there are 99 guys I like more. That being said, you cannot really fault a team for taking Jack Hextall if they have an established first line center and love the traits that Jack Hextall brings to an organization. Meaning I will not give a team a poor grade for drafting Hextall in the first round unless that team lacks a really good first line center expecting Hextall to be that top line guy.
    
    
    
    The 5-11 188 lb Jack Hextall had 8 goals, 26 assists, 34 points, 96 shots on goal, 30 penalty minutes, a +5 +/- ratio, 4 power play goals, and 2 game-winning goals in his rookie season with the Youngstown Phantoms in 2024-2025. Jack Hextall had 0 goals, 1 assist, and 1 point in 3 games during the 2025 USHL Playoffs. Jack Hextall had 20 goals, 38 assists, 58 points, 146 shots on goal, a +8 +/- ratio, 9 power play goals, 6 game-winning goals, and 2 short-handed goals with the Youngstown Phantoms in 2025-2026. Jack Hextall had 1 goal, 1 assist, and 2 points in 4 games in the 2026 USHL Playoffs.
    
    
    
    
    
31. Nashville Predators: Tommy Bleyl, D, Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL) A Grade
    
    
    Tommy Bleyl has the speed, explosion, burst, versatility, agility, skating, foot speed, playmaking, passing, sniping, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, vision, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Tommy Bleyl is the thirty first player in the top thirty two with experience to play on a first line on his junior team or potential to play on a first line in the 2026 NHL Draft the other player in the top thirty two is a goalie.
    
    
    
    The 6-0 160 lb Tommy Bleyl had 13 goals, 68 assists, 81 points, a +58 +/- ratio, 195 shots, and 4 power play goals ceasing control of the first line defenseman on the defending 2025 QMJHL Champion Moncton Wildcats in his rookie QMJHL Season in 2025-2026. Tommy Bleyl had 6 goals, 22 assists, 28 points, a +15 +/- ratio, 71 shots, 3 power play goals, and 2 game-winning goals in 21 games during the 2026 QMJHL Playoffs. Moncton returned to the 2026 QMJHL Finals hoping to defend their title, but lost to the Chicoutimi Sagueneens in the Championship game.
    
    
    
    One of The Prospect Don's friends in a group chat on X said Tommy Bleyl is a dark horse to crack the first round. I agree completely after watching the tape of Tommy Bleyl. He has one more year in the QMJHL and then enrolls at Michigan State in 2027. My guess is Tommy Bleyl will be on Carolina in 2029 when Sean Walker becomes a UFA after two years of development on Michigan State in the NCAA. Tommy Bleyl was the first player since Dmitri Kulikov to win both QMJHL Player Of The Year and Rookie Of The Year in the QMJHL in the same season.
    
    
    
32. Ottawa Senators: Jaxon Cover, LW, London Knights (OHL) B Grade
    
    
    Jaxon Cover has the speed, explosion, burst, agility, skating, playmaking, passing, vision, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Jaxon Cover really improved his wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, and slap shot accuracy in his draft year which was his weakness coming into this year. Jaxon Cover is the thirty fourth player with experience or potential to play on a first line in the 2026 NHL Draft.
    
    
    
    The 6-1 185 Jaxon Cover had 20 goals, 32 assists, 52 points, a +9 +/- ratio, 48 penalty minutes, 6 power play goals, 160 shots on goal, 2 game-winning goals, and 7 faceoff wins in 67 OHL regular season games in 2025-2026. Jaxon Cover had 2 goals, 1 assist, and 3 points in 5 games during the 2026 OHL Playoffs.